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Area’s cattle history to be marked for posterity

By Carolyn LeeThe Imperial Republican On Sept. 7 markers will be set in Chase and surrounding counties to mark the Great Western Cattle Trail that passed through the area. The trail moved cattle from Texas to Ogallala, Neb. and beyond. The Great Western Cattle Trail moved the most cattle during the 12 years it was used because the trail could continue to move west as homesteaders claimed the land the trail crossed. The trail operated between 1874-1886 in this area, and into the 1890s in the west, according to Chase County Historical Society President Charley Colton. The Great Western Trail organization, which has members in every state the trail crossed, is planting the four-foot metal posts, after receiving verification from local historical societies that the locations are correct. Colton said the program will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at the home of John Maddux, where a post will be set. Others will be placed at the Blanche Church, the Marvin Large farm, the John Osler farm, three in Hayes County, and the last one at the Jack Maddux feedlot. One will also be set in Perkins County. Marvin Large will lead a brief discussion of the trails and will have maps available for perusal. Tom Kraus of Madrid and Ted Tietjen of Grant will represent the Great Western Trail organization. Refreshements will be served at the Wauneta Senior Center following the tour. Colton said there were actually two cattle trails in this area. One, the Wallace Branch, ran from St. Francis, Kan. to Haigler, the Dan Adler farm and on into Champion, where there was a rock corral. The other one ran from Trenton to north of Wauneta to north of the Blanche Church. For more information contact Colton at (308) 883-8584.